Water pollution exceeds drinking-standard limits in many OECD farming areas
Pollution
of rivers, lakes, and aquifers exceeds recommended limits for drinking
water in farming areas in many OECD countries, according to a new OECD
report. Environmental Performance of Agriculture in OECD Countries
since 1990 shows that excess levels of nitrates, phosphorus or
pesticides were found in more than one out of 10 monitoring sites in 13
OECD countries. Treating pesticide- and nutrient-contaminated water to
bring it up to drinking standards is costly. In the United Kingdom, for
example, the cost imposed by water pollution from agriculture is
estimated at around EUR 345 million annually. Farm chemical
contamination of coastal waters is also a major problem in most regions
as nutrients cause rapid growth of algae and damage marine life.
Pesticide use has declined overall in OECD countries since 1990. But
while many pesticides are now less environmentally harmful, the
persistence in the environment of certain older pesticides – several of
which are now banned in some countries - remains a concern.
The report shows that in a third of OECD countries more than 30% of
water taken from underground aquifers is used by farmers. In regions of
Australia, Greece, Italy, Mexico and the US, groundwater is being
depleted at rates higher than it is being recharged. Government support
for irrigation is widespread but can act as a disincentive to efficient
water use.
The report also shows that:
The report provides comparative data for OECD countries up to 2004
across a range of indicators, including agricultural production and
land, nutrients, pesticides, energy, soil, water, air, biodiversity and
farm management. While it recognises the increasing efforts by
governments to enhance the environmental performance of agriculture, it
points out that much farm support still remains linked to production.
This encourages a higher level of output but also greater use of inputs
such as pesticides and fertilisers.
The solution, according to the OECD, is to continue to shift towards
farm support policies not linked to production and to pursue
environmental objectives in agriculture by using a mix of targeted
measures. These include providing direct payments for environmental
benefits (e.g. wildlife conservation), enforcing regulations and taxes
to prevent pollution, improving information for farmers, and exploring
market solutions, for example, using tradeable permits and quotas to
address pollution from nutrients and greenhouse gases.
Contact information | n/a |
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News type | Inbrief |
File link |
http://www.environmental-expert.com/resulteachpressrelease.aspx?cid=25898&codi=32976&loginemail=jauad.el-kharraz@semide.org&logincode=151743 |
Source of information | OECD - The Environment Directorate |
Subject(s) | CHARACTERISTICAL PARAMETERS OF WATERS AND SLUDGES , DRINKING WATER , DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION : COMMON PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION AND TREATMENT , PREVENTION AND NUISANCES POLLUTION , WATER QUALITY |
Geographical coverage | International |
News date | 19/06/2008 |
Working language(s) | ENGLISH |